Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 25 June 1987|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | French | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WNBA draft | 2007: 1st round, 13th overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected by the Connecticut Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2005–2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2007 | US Valenciennes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2016 | UMMC Ekaterinburg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2010 | Connecticut Sun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2017 | Fenerbahçe Istanbul | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | Yakın Doğu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018–2022 | PF Schio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022–2024 | ASVEL Féminin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stats at WNBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Sandrine Gruda (born 25 June 1987) is a French former professional basketball player. [1]
She is the daughter of Ulysse Gruda, who played for the French men's national basketball team, and grew up on Martinique. Before joining the WNBA, Gruda played professionally for the French club Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic. She began playing on senior level in 2002, and professionally in 2005. [2] She was voted the best European young women's player of the year 2006. [3]
Gruda was drafted 13th overall in the 2007 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. She did not join the Sun until the 2008 season. She was highly touted by head coach Mike Thibault before joining the team. During her rookie season, she provided solid bench play and with her height and length, was a consistent rebounder and shot-blocker.
In 2014, she returned to the WNBA after a three-year absence, joining the Los Angeles Sparks as a reserve on the roster. Gruda sat out the 2015 season to prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympics with the France women's national basketball team in the qualifying tournament. [4] In 2016, Gruda re-signed with the Sparks after the Olympic break. [4] Later on in the season, Gruda would win her first WNBA championship with the Sparks after they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 3–2 in the Finals. Following the championship victory, after not being re-signed during free agency, Gruda returned to the Sparks midway through the 2017 season. [5] The Sparks would go on to advance to the Finals for the second season in a row, after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with the Lynx. However, the Sparks would lose to the Lynx in five games.
She played for the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg from 2007 to 2016. On 6 July 2016, Fenerbahçe Istanbul announced her transfer to the club.
Gruda is the starting center for the France women's national basketball team, and led her team to the EuroBasket 2009 title. She was the best scorer and rebounder of the French side, and was voted to the all-tournament team. She also took part in the World Championship 2006 and the EuroBasket 2007, [3] reaching the quarter-finals both times.
Candace Nicole Parker, nicknamed "Ace", is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and one season with the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.
Ann Hilde Willy Wauters is a Belgian former professional basketball player and coach, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played for numerous American and European professional teams, including the Cleveland Rockers, US Valenciennes Olympic, and the San Antonio Silver Stars. She won four EuroLeague championships and one WNBA Finals during her career. Her primary position was center.
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American former professional basketball player. Fowles played for the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx during her WNBA career. She won the WNBA MVP Award in 2017 and the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times. She led the Lynx to win the WNBA Championship in 2015 and 2017, and she was named the MVP of the WNBA Finals both times. In 2020, Fowles overtook Rebekkah Brunson to become the WNBA's career leader in rebounds. In 2025, Fowles will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Lindsey Marcie Harding is an American professional basketball coach and former player. She is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout her playing career, Harding played for the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has played overseas in Turkey and Russia. She was previously a scout and a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, but grew up in Houston, Texas, and also holds a Belarusian passport.
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Evanthia "Evina" Maltsi is a Greek former professional basketball guard. In 2007, she played for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA, appearing in 29 games, 26 in the regular season and 3 in the playoffs. A three time Euroleague All-Star (2007–2009), Maltsi has a long career in European club basketball, having played in Spain, France, Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey besides her native Greece and she has won numerous titles as a player of CJM Bourges, Ros Casares Valencia, USK Praha and Olympiacos.
Ana Dabović is a Serbian professional basketball player for the BLMA of the French Ligue 1 and EuroLeague Women. Standing at 1.83 m, she plays at the shooting guard position. She also represents the Serbian national basketball team.
Jantel Lavender is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Lynetta Kizer is an American-Bosnian professional basketball player for Geelong United of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played college basketball for the University of Maryland.
Emma Meesseman is a Belgian professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Women's Basketball Super League and EuroLeague Women. After playing basketball in Belgium, Meesseman was drafted by the Washington Mystics with the 19th overall pick in the second round of the 2013 WNBA draft. She has also played for the Belgian national team and several European professional teams. She was named the 2011 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year and the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP. Meesseman studied physical education at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Gabrielle Lisa Williams is an American-French professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League and EuroLeague Women. She was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA draft. In 2022 she was a EuroLeague champion with Sopron and was named the Final Four MVP. Williams played forward in college for the UConn Huskies, and won back to back national championships in 2015 and 2016. She has played for the French national team in the Tokyo 2020 and the Paris 2024 Olympic games.
Alanna Smith is an Australian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Shandong Six Stars of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal.
Cecilia Zandalasini is an Italian basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League and the Italian national team. She was the MVP of 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship for Women.
Jonquel Orthea Jones is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Sichuan Yuanda of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. Since May 2019, she also holds the citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing her to play for the national team.
Lisa Berkani is a French professional basketball player for ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB). She was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx with the 24th overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft.
Karlie Anne Samuelson is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Çukurova Basketbol of the Women's Basketball Super League in Turkey. In college, Samuelson played for Stanford University. Her sisters are Bonnie and Katie Lou Samuelson.
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